Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA (EI): The contractor for Ethiopian Airlines Group’s future headquarters project announced on Monday that the construction is progressing smoothly and is expected to be completed within two years.
The Ethiopian national carrier’s future headquarters project, involving a total of nine buildings with construction of the six main buildings ongoing as part of the project’s first-phase, is currently underway inside the premises of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
On Monday, representatives from the Chinese construction company stated that the construction work for the 67.8 million U.S. dollar headquarters project is “well underway” and is expected to be finalized by the stated timeframe in August 2026.
Wang Peng, Executive Project Manager, told visiting journalists that the project construction began in December last year and currently stands at 5 percent completion, with foundation works being carried out at the moment.
According to Wang, the project is being undertaken with a particular emphasis on the airline’s strong commitment to green development initiatives.
Wang noted that the construction project has so far created 500 job opportunities for Ethiopians across various positions. He further emphasized the Chinese contractor’s determination to successfully transfer knowledge and skills to the local workforce.
The Executive Project Manager specifically highlighted ongoing experience-sharing initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities of aspiring Ethiopian youth with the latest construction technologies.
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest and fastest-growing airline, is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan, called Vision 2035, aiming to become one of the most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secure, market-driven and customer-focused passenger and cargo transport, aviation training, airport management and ground services, among others.
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS
On Monday, the airline disclosed that it has generated over 7 billion U.S. dollars in revenue for the recently concluded 2016 (2023/24) Ethiopian fiscal year, which ended on July 8.
Addressing a press conference regarding the airlines’ business performance on Monday, Mesfin Tasew, the Group’s CEO, said the airline logged an “impressive” 577,746 flight hours, marking a 19 percent increase from the previous record; while also expanding its international destinations to 139 and domestic routes to 22.
In terms of passenger numbers, the Ethiopian national carrier said it has served a total of 17.1 million passengers during the stated period, of which, 13.4 million were said to be international travelers.
ROBUST EXPANSION ACTIVITIES
Noting a “significant increase” in demand for domestic flights, the CEO told journalists that new airports were constructed in different parts of the country as part of its ambition to connect the country with air transport services. The new airports that were constructed during the fiscal year include in Yabelo, Mizan Aman, Gore Metu, and Negele Borena, with Debre Markos airport expected to be completed soon.
As part of its robust expansion activities, in May this year, the Ethiopian flag carrier inaugurated its 50 million-U.S. dollar domestic passenger terminal project at the Bole Addis Ababa International Airport.
The terminal expansion and renovation work, which was carried out by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), expanded the facility two-fold to 25,270 square meters, equips the terminal with state-of-the-art passenger handling facilities, according to the airlines.
Also, in February this year, the airline inaugurated a new e-commerce logistics hub in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to meet the surging demands of online shoppers and retailers, which was said to be pivotal in simplifying logistics, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, ultimately elevating logistics performance. Built by China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Cooperation, the e-commerce logistics hub covers about 15,000 square meters and has a capacity to handle 150,000 tonnes of goods annually, according to the airlines.
By Habtamu Liben
